Report on Freedom of Information Law Implementation in Arab Local Authorities for 2025
Translated & summarized from Alarab by baba
A 2025 report by the Israeli Ministry of Justice and Interior reveals that Arab local authorities received 868 freedom of information requests, a 7% decrease from the previous year. Thirty Arab local authorities failed to submit required reports, and 188 of 292 petitions filed against local authorities were against Arab ones, mostly for non-response. Arab local authorities were ordered to pay over 232,000 shekels in legal costs.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- 868 freedom of information requests were submitted to Arab local authorities in 2025, a 7% annual decrease.
- 30 Arab local authorities failed to submit required freedom of information officer reports.
- 188 of 292 petitions filed against local authorities were against Arab ones, primarily for non-response.
- Arab local authorities were ordered to pay 232,374 shekels in legal costs related to freedom of information petitions.
- The report highlights a "worrying" situation where many Arab citizens are denied access to information.
A report released by the Government Freedom of Information Unit, jointly with the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Interior, details the implementation of the Freedom of Information Law in local authorities during 2025. A total of 11,111 requests for information were submitted to Israeli local authorities under the law that year. Of these, 868 requests were directed to local authorities in the Arab community, marking a 7% decrease from the previous year.
Out of 84 local authorities in the Arab community, 30 failed to submit a report from their designated freedom of information officer, as required by law. This included Qalansawe municipality, which has not submitted a report since 2018, Nazareth municipality for the fifth consecutive year, Tayibe for the fourth, and Shefa-Amr for the second. Several local and regional councils, including Al-Batuf, Jaljulia, Jatt, Kafr Manda, Kafr Qara, and others, also failed to submit reports as mandated.
Across all local authorities nationwide, 17% (45 out of 259) did not submit the legally required report. The Arab local authorities receiving the most information requests were Ba'ineh-Nucheidat Local Council (52 requests), Bir al-Maksur Local Council (42), and Yafia-Nazareth Local Council (39).
Nineteen local authorities responded to all requests and provided complete information, including Iksal, Yarka, Zarzir, Abu Ghosh, and Tayibe municipalities. However, the regional council of Bustan al-Marj, Harfesh Local Council, and Kisra-Sumay'i Local Council recorded the highest rates of rejection for information requests.
Nahf Local Council, Ghajar Local Council, and Yafia-Nazareth Local Council were noted for their prompt responses, providing information within 14 days. A total of 292 petitions were filed in courts against local authorities under the Freedom of Information Law, with 188 (64%) targeting authorities in the Arab community. Sakhnin Local Council, Qalansawe municipality, Jatt Local Council, Tuval-Zangariyya Local Council, and Al-Batuf Local Council faced the highest number of petitions.
Of the petitions against Arab community local authorities, 173 (92%) were due to non-response. Out of 294 court rulings on petitions, 200 (68%) were against Arab community local authorities. Petitions were accepted in 197 cases (98.5%), with only three being rejected. Arab community local authorities were ordered to pay a total of 232,374 shekels in legal costs, with no costs awarded in their favor. The total fees collected by local authorities under the law amounted to 1,614 shekels.
Shlomi Belbaski, Head of the Government Freedom of Information Unit at the Ministry of Justice, described the data as "worrying," stating that many Arab Israeli citizens are being denied their right to information. He emphasized that transparency is essential for proper administration and oversight.